SEMA is governed by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. A professional staff is responsible for the day-to-day execution of the programs and services.

As a trade association, SEMA is led by a volunteer Board of Directors. The individuals serving on the board are doing more than just "getting involved" and leading the association. They are serving the industry and all of the businesses within it. They are providing direction and playing a critical role in shaping the future of the automotive specialty-equipment market.
 
The SEMA board consists of 10 directors, the chairman, the chairman-elect, immediate past chairman/secretary and treasurer. While there is a limited number of seats on the board, the election process gives all SEMA-member companies the ability to influence the future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

In addition to having the ability to vote in the election, SEMA-member companies also have an opportunity to play a role in the process from the very beginning.

In fact, the election process begins with employees of SEMA-member companies recommending people in the industry who, in their opinion, would be good candidates to run for the SEMA board. Members are free to nominate colleagues as well as themselves. A nominating task force then reviews all recommendations. This group consists of seven individuals, who, by agreeing to sit on the task force, are ineligible to run for the board during that election year. The group reviews each nomination based on industry experience, knowledge of business affairs, integrity and other similar characteristics.

The nominating task force then submits its recommendations for potential candidates to the current board of directors. This process of checks and balances ensures that the final list of candidates includes only highly qualified nominees. Names and background information on the final candidates are included in election booklets, which are sent along with ballots to all SEMA members in the appropriate voting categories. According to SEMA bylaws, there are four basic voting categories: Manufacturers, Distributor/Retailer, Services, and Manufacturers' Reps. Members are free to vote for a candidate in each of the membership categories.

Ballots returned before the stated deadline are collected and tabulated by an outside web ballot/election company. The SEMA President and two board members confirm the election results, and the final results are announced soon after all candidates have been contacted, with new directors and officers beginning their service in July.

All board positions serve three-year terms. (The chairman-elect serves in that position for two years, then serves as chairman for the succeeding two years.) Directors may be re-elected to serve up to two consecutive three-year terms in office, and they may be re-elected to office after two consecutive terms following a minimum break in continuous service of two consecutive years.